Sir Peter William Mathieson FRCP FMedSci FRSE[2][3] (Chinese: 馬斐森; born 18 April 1959) is an English nephrologist and current principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburgh.

He was the dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry of the University of Bristol before he assumed office at the HKU in April 2014, and was previously director of studies at Christ's College, Cambridge.

After junior posts in and around the West End of London, he went to Christ's College, Cambridge as a Medical Research Council (MRC) training fellow, studying for a PhD which was awarded in 1992.

[11] While at the University of Bristol, Mathieson ran 'The cellular basis of albuminuria' research project, with £585,000 funding from the MRC from 2005 to 2008.

[12] In 2007 he was elected as the youngest ever president of the Renal Association and also became head of the University Department of Clinical Science at North Bristol.

[note 1] His appointment was controversial as some staff felt that Mathieson lacked management experience and familiarity with Chinese society.

[27] The Chairman of the Staff Association, William Cheung, stated "you may now appreciate why we thank you [University of Edinburgh] so many times for taking Professor Mathieson on board" after claims that Mathieson failed to uphold academic freedom, discouraged debate on campus, and did not understand the needs of students emerged from a staff survey.

[26] Mathieson became Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh in February 2018, succeeding Sir Timothy O'Shea in the role.

[30] At Edinburgh, Mathieson was further criticised for his lack of oversight in relation to a replacement finance system which failed to pay staff, students and suppliers over an extended period,[31] continued to give units within the University no financial control for more than a year after its implementation and cost more than double its original £14 million price tag.

In April 2024, Mathieson met with students involved in setting up a pro-Palestine encampment at the University of Edinburgh's Old College.

Mathieson and vice-principal Colm Harmon heard concerns from student demonstrators urging for Edinburgh to divest funding from companies tied to Israel, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza.

[43][44] In addition to his role as Principal, Mathieson has lectured to undergraduate medical students on his specialism in kidney disease at Edinburgh.